Sawhorse bracket assembly



no. 25, 1969 c. o. LARSON 3,480,111

SAWHORSE BRACKET ASSEMBLY Filed April 1, 1968 United States Patent US. Cl. 182-224 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bracket assembly for use in the formation of a sawhorse or the like structure. The assembly includes a main support bracket having a generally triangular face plate with a slot of a predetermined width extending inwardly from the apex thereof and a shelf portion extending outwardly from a first surface of the face plate at the base of the slot; and an auxiliary bracket mounted on the main bracket. The auxiliary bracket includes a plate portion having a width at least at a predetermined point therealong equal to the width of the slot in the main 'bracket and being received thereat in the slot. A first section of the plate portion extends from the first surface of the face plate and rests on the shelf portion. The free end of the first section overhangs the end of the shelf portion and is reversely bent thereabout. A second section extends from the opposite surface of the face plate and includes flanges along the sides thereof, the ends of which are butted against the second surface of the face plate. The cross member of the sawhorse structure rests on the auxiliary bracket and an aperture in the latter serves to allow for the insertion of a fastener into the cross member.

Background of the invention This invention relates to support forming brackets such as those used in the formation of sawhorses or the like structures.

Summary of the invention It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and improved bracket assembly for use in forming sawhorses or the like.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an auxiliary bracket for use with a support forming bracket such as shown in my Patent No. 3,042,144, which provides added stability and strength to a sawhorse, etc., formed with the last-mentioned bracket.

It is another object of this invention to provide an auxiliary bracket for use with a support bracket like the one described above, which provides for added ease of assembly of a sawhorse or the like structure and which is simple and inexpensive to produce.

Description of the drawings A better understanding of the present invention and its organization and construction may be had by referring to the description below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sawhorse structure formed through the use of a plurality of bracket assemblies according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a bracket assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 2 in an assembled condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the sawhorse structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a bracket assembly according to the invention, illustrating the manner in 3,480,1 l 1 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 which the main and auxiliary brackets thereof are assembled; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of an auxiliary bracket of a bracket assembly according to the invention shown prior to being shaped for use with a main bracket of the assembly.

Detailed description Referring now to the drawings more in detail, FIG. 1 thereof illustrates a portion of a sawhorse 10 including a crosspiece or member 12, a pair of legs 14 and a pair of bracket assemblies 16 according to the invention, each including a main support bracket 18 and an auxiliary bracket 20 for interconnecting the crosspiece 12 of the sawhorse structure to the legs 14 thereof.

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, a bracket assembly 16 according to the invention is shown both in an assembled and unassembled condition, respectively. The main bracket 18 of the bracket assembly, as shown in the figures, and which is discussed in greater detail in the aforementioned patent, includes a face plate 22 of a generally triangular shape. The face plate is preferably formed as an equilateral triangle including an angle of thirty-three degrees between the equal length sides 24 thereof, for it has been found that at this angle the supporting legs 14 (FIG. 1) provide more strength and stability to the sawhorse or the like structure.

The bracket 18 further includes a rectilinear slot or opening 26 of a predetermined width indicated as X, which extends downwardly from the narrowest apex of the face plate 22, and which has been provided to receive therein a length of lumber or the like material to form a crosspiece, such as 12 of FIG. 1, of the sawhorse. A shelf or ledge 28 is disposed at the base of the slot 26 and extends rearwardly from the face plate 22 and substantially perpendicularly thereto. The shelf is provided as a support upon which the crosspiece 12 may rest as well as a stop for legs 14 therebeneath.

The equal length sides 24 of the face plate 22 are provided with flanges 30 which extend rearwardly and perpendicularly therefrom. The converging flanges 30 (FIG. 1) define channels for constraining legs 14 of the sawhorse structure 10. To impart additional strength to the main bracket 18, embossed, reinforced ribs 32 are provided along the face plate 22.

The auxiliary bracket 20, according to the invention, comprises an elongated plate 34 having first and second sections 36 and 38, respectively. The first section 36 includes an aperture 40 extending through the section, a rounded free edge 37 and a pair of flanges 42 extending downwardly along the sides thereof perpendicularly to the plate 34. The second section 38 is preferably narrowed or tapered at the free end 44 thereof and includes a pair of notches 43 on opposite sides thereof, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. The end 44 of section 38, as will be shown below, is able to be bent (along dotted line 47 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 for illustrative purposes) about the outwardly extending end 48 of shelf 28 of the main support bracket 18, to secure the auxiliary bracket 20 to the latter.

FIG. 3 of the drawings shows the auxiliary bracket 20 in position on shelf 28 of the main support bracket 18. As can be seen in the figure, the width of the auxiliary bracket 20 is slightly larger than the width (X, FIG. 2) of slot 26, so that the bracket may be mounted between the edges 50 defining the slot only at notches 43 thereof whereat the width is approximately equal to the width of the slot 26. Thus, edges 50 are received in notches 43 as auxiliary bracket 20 is slipped downwardly onto the shelf 28. If desired, however, the width of bracket 20 may be equal to that of slot 26 and notches 43 eliminated. This provides for a more simple and less costly construction of the auxiliary bracket 20. The vertically oriented ends 52 of flanges 42 of the auxiliary bracket are butted against face plate 22 when'the bracket is in position on shelf 28 to further support section 36 of the bracket 20 against the weight of a crosspiece 12 placed thereon.

FIG. 4 illustrates the manner in which a pair of bracket assemblies 16, according to the invention, maintain legs 14 and crosspiece 12 of the sawhorse structure 10 in an assembled relation. A pair of bracket assemblies 16, as shown in FIG. 4, are combined with a pair of legs 14 by disposing the bracket assemblies back-to-back in a spaced-apart relation and'situating the legs 14 within the channels formed by the adjacent flanges of the main brackets 18 of the respective assemblies. In order to establish positive alignment between the two bracket assemblies, a number of preferably rectangular holes 56 are provided in the face plate 22 of each of the main brackets. Carriage bolts 58 or other suitable fasteners may be inserted through aligned holes 56 in each of the two main brackets 18 to have wing nuts 60 threaded about their free ends so as to draw the bracket assemblies together closely about legs 14 to secure them therebetween.

Crosspiece 12 is inserted into slot 26 of both main support brackets 18. A small nail or screw may be inserted through aperture 62 near the apex of the bracket 18 in flanges 30 thereof to aid in securing the crosspiece 12 thereto.

It will be noted that crosspiece 12, due to the addition of auxiliary brackets 20 is provided with added area for Y the support thereof and for the distribution of weight carried thereby when the sawhorse is being used. In addition, to better secure the crosspiece 12 to the bracket assembly 16, a fastener 54, such as a screw or nail, may

be inserted from beneath crosspiece 12 through aperture in auxiliary bracket 20 and into the lower surface of the crosspiece. Because the section 36 of the bracket 20 is spaced from the leg assembly and extends outwardly from the main bracket 18, easy access to aperture 40 for the insertion of fastener 54 therein is provided.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the mounting of auxiliary bracket 20 on main bracket 18, discussed briefly heretofore, will now be described in greater detail.

As mentioned above, the auxiliary bracket 20 is positioned between sides of slot 26 with section 38 thereof resting on shelf 28 of main support bracket 18. The end 44 of the auxiliary bracket is reversely bent, as shown in FIG. 5, from the position shown in dotted lines, about the free end 48 of shelf 28 to the position shown in solid lines. This secures the auxiliary bracket 20 to the shelf and prevents it from being moved either to the left or the right, as shown in the figure. To explain, the bracket 20 cannot be moved to the left because of the reversely bent end portion 44 butting against the free end 48 of shelf 28, and cannot be moved to the right because of the notches 43 (FIG. 2 and 3) which receive therein edges 50, and because of the edges 52 of flanges 42 of auxiliary bracket 20 butting against face plate 22 of the main bracket. If, however, the bracket 20 were of the type which did not include notches 43, it would still be securely held and immovable due to the reversely bent end portion 44 and the abutting edges 52 of the flanges 42 thereof.

After crosspiece 12 is positioned between respective slots 26 of main bracket 18 and comes to rest on the auxiliary brackets 20, a screw or nail 54 may be easily inserted through aperture 40 in section 36 of the auxiliary bracket 20, into the lower surface of the crosspiece 12.

The manufacture of bracket 20, as can be seen from FIG. 6, is relatively simple, since each bracket 20 is of a one-piece construction and is stamped from a sheet of relatively rigid metal, such as that used in the manufacture of the main support bracket 18. After being stamped in a shape as shown in FIG. 6, flanges 42 are bent downwardly (into the page as shown in FIG. 6) along the imaginary lines 60. The bracket is now in condition for use with a main bracket 18. The bending of the end portion 44 of section 38 of the bracket 20 about shelf 28 (FIG. 5) to secure the former to the latter may be accomplished by the user of the bracket assembly merely by hammering the end 44 into a reversely bent position, or the bracket assembly may be preassembled, if desired.

Thus, the bracket assembly including the auxiliary bracket according to the invention provides an efficient, easy to use, reliable and durable arrangement for use in the formation of sawhorse or the like structures. The auxiliary bracket provides a greater area for a wider distribution of weight carried by the cross member of a sawhorse structure and an accessible place for the insertion of a fastener to better secure the cross member to the remaining structure of the sawhorse.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made. It is therefore contemplated to cover by the present application any and all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An auxiliary bracket for use with a support bracket in the formation of a sawhorse or the like structure including a generally triangularly shaped face plate having a slot of a predetermined width extending inwardly from the apex of the face plate With a shelf portion extending outwardly from a first surface of said face plate at the base of the slot substantially perpendicularly to said first surface of said face plate, said auxiliary bracket comprising: a plate portion having a width at least at a predetermined point therealong substantially equal to the width of said slot and being received thereat in said slot, said plate portion having a first section extending outwardly from said first surface of the face plate of said main support bracket and resting on said shelf portion, and a second section extending outwardly from a second, opposite surface of said face plate with means preventing movement of the auxiliary bracket in one direction relative to the support bracket, said first section having means securing the same to the shelf portion to interconnect said auxiliary and main support brackets and prevent movement of the auxiliary bracket in the 0pposite direction relative to the support bracket.

2. An auxiliary bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first section of said auxiliary bracket overhangs the free end of said shelf portion and is reversely bent over the latter to secure said auxiliary bracket to said main bracket.

3. An auxiliary bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second section of said auxiliary bracket includes at each side thereof, a flange member extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein first edges of said flange members are butted against a second surface of the face plate of said main support bracket further to secure said brackets to each other and to prevent relative movement therebetween.

4. An auxiliary bracket as claimed in claim 2 and further including at said predetermined point therealong, a pair of notches, the width between the inner edges thereof being substantially equal to the width of said slot, and said notches receiving therein the edges of said face plate defining said slot, thereby to further prevent movement of said auxiliary bracket with respect to said main support bracket.

5. An auxiliary bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second section includes an aperture extending therethrough for receiving therein a fastener thereby to aid in the attachment of a portion of said sawhorse structure to said auxiliary bracket.

6. An arrangement for interconnecting a cross member and a pair of legs of predetermined lengths and sizes in converging relation to form a support, said arrangement comprising a pair of bracket assemblies, each said assembly including a main support bracket member having a triangularly shaped face plate with a slot of a predetermined width extending downwardly thereinto from the apex, with a shelf portion extending outwardly from a first surface of said face plate at the base of said slot, said shelf portions of said pair of brackets being in an aligned opposing relation, each of said brackets further including flanges on each side thereof extending toward the flanges of the other bracket for receiving and engaging therebetween said legs, and a pair of auxiliary brackets, each one of said pair being associated with a corresponding main support bracket and each comprising a plate portion having a width at least at a predetermined point therealong substantially equal to the width of said slot and being received thereat in said slot, said plate portion having a first section extending outwardly from said first surface of the face plate of said corresponding main support bracket and resting on a corresponding shelf portion and a eco section extending outwardly from the opposite surface of said face plate with means preventing movement of the auxiliary bracket in one direction relative to the support bracket, said first section overhanging the free end of said shelf portion and being reversely bent over said end to secure said auxiliary bracket to a corresponding main bracket and prevent movement of the auxiliary bracket in the opposite direction relative to the corresponding main bracket, said cross member being received in said slots of said main brackets and being supported by said auxiliary brackets therein.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said auxiliary brackets further includes at each side of the second section thereof, a flange member extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom and wherein first ends of said flange members are butted against said second surface of said face plate of a corresponding main support bracket, thereby to aid in preventing movement of said auxiliary brackets with respect to a respective main support bracket and to provide added support to said cross member.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of the second sections of said auxiliary brackets includes an aperture extending therethrough for receiving therein a fastener to be engaged with said cross member, thereby to securely attach said cross member to said bracket assemblies.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said auxiliary brackets includes at said predetermined point therealong, a pair of notches, the width between the inner edges thereof being substantially equal to the width of said slot, said notches receiving therein the side edges of said face plate defining said slot thereby to aid in securing said auxiliary brackets and main support brackets to each other, and to aid in preventing relative movement therebetween.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said auxiliary brackets are each of a one-piece, metal construction with said flange members being integrally formed therewith, and wherein the reversely bent end of said first section is tapered to provide for ease in bending said overhanging portion about the free end of said shelf portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,858 5/1933 OKane 182185 2,634,172 4/1953 Hollidge 18218l 2,638,386 5/1953 Larson 182--181 2,841,451 7/1958 Faust 182185 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

